Military coups in Nigeria since 1960

A list of the military coups that have taken place in Nigeria since its independence in 1960.

Military coups in Nigeria since 1960

Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu – 1966 – Successful

Lt. Col. Murtala Muhammed – 1966 – Successful

Gen. Murtala Muhammed – 1975 – Successful

Lt-Colonel Bukur Suka Dimka – 1976 – Unsuccessful

General Buhari Muhammadu – 1983 – Successful

Ibrahim Babangida – 1985 – Successful

Major-General Mamman Vatsa – 1986 – Unsuccessful

Gideon Orka – 1990 – Unsuccessful

General Sani Abacha – 1985 – Successful

General Olusegun Obasanjo – 1986 – Alledged

Lt-General Oladipo Diya – 1990 – Alledged

“The 1966 Nigerian coup d’etat on January 15, 1966, was the first military coup that was carried out in Nigeria by junior officers. The coup d’etat toppled the government of PresidentNnamdi Azikiwe and Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa thereby rewriting the political, social and military history of the country.”